We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vanessa Tullie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vanessa below.

Alright, Vanessa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

About a month ago, I wanted to express appreciation to our employees, who are not just workers but valued members of our caregiving family. While they assist us in serving our clients, our Caregivers go above and beyond, and I wanted to ensure that their dedication didn’t go unnoticed.

The cornerstone of my homecare agency has always been to provide fair wages along with opportunities for bonuses and additional earnings. Offering overtime pay and paid time off sets us apart from many other agencies, especially in tribal areas where such benefits are often rare.

To show our gratitude, we decided to gift our team members with thoughtfully curated gift baskets. Recently, our office team has been dedicated to attending events and crafting personalized goodies, including items like coffee mugs, mousepads, and embroidered essentials such as aprons, dish towels, hand towels, and washcloths.

Partnering with Blue Corn Custom Designs allowed us to elevate our appreciation gesture to a new level. Their beautifully wrapped gift bags contained items deeply rooted in Navajo culture. Each bag included a vial of Navajo cedar from the Chuska Mountains, a mini cedar necklace traditionally used in prayer and ceremony, sourced from local Dine’ Family Farms. Additionally, the bags featured a cup of blue corn cornmeal, a staple of Navajo cuisine, along with four delicious blue corn cookies. Of course, we also included our custom coffee mug and a dish towel to complete the package.

Our primary aim is to extend care and support to our team members, and through the collaboration with Blue Corn Custom Designs, we were able to achieve this in a culturally relevant manner. It’s essential to us that our gestures of appreciation resonate with the cultural backgrounds of our staff, ensuring that they feel truly valued and understood.

Vanessa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Vanessa Tullie, and I am a proud tribal member from the Navajo Nation. After over two decades in Phoenix, Arizona, I founded my own company in 2018. The story behind my business stems from my personal journey as a caregiver for my mother during her final days. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer of unknown origin, leaving us searching for treatment options. However, medical professionals advised us to prepare for end-of-life care. Balancing my role as a new mother to my fourth child, I accompanied my mother to medical appointments and cherished every moment with her, even as she was hospitalized.

When the hospital informed us that further treatment was not available and an extended hospital stay imposed infection risks, we opted for hospice care. Yet, it became evident that my mother longed to be at home surrounded by loved ones. Fulfilling her wish, we brought her home, where I became her primary caregiver. I was guided by the hospice nurses and sought caregiving resources to ensure her comfort, all the while knowing her time was drawing near. After her passing, I resolved to honor her legacy by raising my family and providing support to others in need.

A year following her passing, I started on the journey of entrepreneurship. Ahehee’ Shidine’e Homecare LLC was born on July 2nd, 2018, with its name translating to “thank you my people” in Navajo, which encapsulates the essence of our mission. Over the past five years, we’ve strived to realize initiatives close to my heart, such as offering free training programs encompassing First Aid/CPR and Direct Care Worker certifications. I firmly believe in the importance of equipping individuals with caregiving skills, viewing it as our inherent duty to care for our elders and disabled community members.

Many elders within the Navajo Nation cherish the idea of aging in place, rooted in their deep connection to their ancestral lands. Recognizing this, I aim to provide culturally sensitive care tailored to their needs. However, I’m acutely aware of the insufficient availability of hospice facilities and culturally competent care options on reservations, compounded by the challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As I envision a future where our elders and disabled community members receive the care they deserve, I remain guided by Creator’s wisdom and my mother’s legacy. Despite the challenges ahead, my commitment to advocating for culturally relevant care remains at the forefront of everything I set out to accomplish.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Oh, goodness… Let me tell you about a moment that stands out. I attended the Growth Capital Summit hosted by Native Women Lead Organization in 2023. There, I had the privilege of meeting Jenn Harper, CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, an indigenous-owned cosmetic brand. I remember asking her, ‘When does it all settle? When are there no more fires to put out?’ It feels like a constant battle sometimes, with my hands in every aspect of our office operations. I handle billing, payroll, and oversee reception, onboarding, and a bit of training. While I wish I could delegate more and focus on the bigger picture, trust becomes an issue when the work I come across isn’t up to standard. I question if my expectations are too high or if I’m not compensating the team adequately.

Running payroll where I’m included is still a work in progress. I reassure myself that if I push a little harder, maybe we’ll attract more clients or staff and reach our desired level. Jenn’s advice stuck with me: having a supportive team is crucial. Finding that balance remains challenging, and I’m still learning to navigate it.

Payroll can be a source of anxiety. Every payday, I find myself losing sleep the night before, ensuring deposits clear in time to issue everyone’s checks. Often, delays stem from claims not being paid out fully on time. Reconsiderations and prior authorizations sometimes don’t process as expected due to system errors or case management issues.

Yet, amidst these challenges, I find peace in small victories. Whether it’s a backdated claim processing or receiving additional funding, I credit our resilience to Creator, before every major decision or during a setback, I pray for guidance and direction. We’re hopeful about potentially securing ARPA grants from Medicaid this summer. It could mean upgrading our tech infrastructure, including computers, printers, and even acquiring a vehicle for field supervisory visits. Additionally, we’re exploring options for mobile satellite internet providers to bridge connectivity gaps in remote areas of the Navajo Nation. Lack of data connectivity in some clients’ homes delays paperwork completion and training review.

In many ways, you could say we operate on hope and prayers. It’s about persevering through challenges, finding solutions, and remaining hopeful about the future.

Any advice for managing a team?

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to prioritize frequent check-ins. Sometimes, simply being physically present during a challenging moment can offer significant relief to a team member. However, it’s crucial that the communication during these check-ins is clear and supportive. I always make it a point to encourage open dialogue, asking for their input, thoughts, and any concerns they may have. Patience is key during these discussions, as it allows team members the space to express their observations fully.

Once they’ve shared their thoughts, I offer my solutions and ensure they know they are valued and appreciated every single day. My team’s well-being is my top priority, and I make it a point to convey that at the start of each day. Additionally, maintaining efficient communication channels is essential for our office dynamics. We’ve set a company-wide goal to respond to texts and emails from our staff and clients within 15 minutes, underscoring the importance of timely and effective communication.

To boost morale within the office, I occasionally treat my team to lunch as a gesture of appreciation. Furthermore, I always conclude our conversations with a heartfelt thank you, emphasizing the gratitude I have for their dedication and hard work. These small gestures of appreciation go a long way in fostering a positive work environment and boosting team morale.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ahehee.org
• Instagram: @vtullie @ahehee.hc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.tullie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-tullie-36055927a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits
Roshan Spottsville